At some point in his life, he joined the clergy as part of a mendicant religious order. Apparently, given his physical appearance, he indulged in the pleasures of food[2] and drink.[3]

The Friar was executed because senior churchmen grew suspicious of his ability to cure the pox merely by poking peasants with a stick, and his ill-advised habit of pulling rabbits out of the communion cup.[5]

Post-mortem

1991—1992 school year

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "My dear Friar, haven't we given Peeves all the chances he deserves? He gives us all a bad name and you know, he’s not really even a ghost — I say, what are you all doing here?"

1994—1995 school year

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "You're lucky there's a feast at all tonight, you know. There was trouble in the kitchens earlier."

Harry Potter: "Why? Wha' 'appened?"

Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington: "Peeves, of course. The usual argument, you know. He wanted to attend the feast — well, it's quite out of the question, you know what he's like, utterly uncivilized, can't see a plate of food without throwing it. We held a ghost's council — the Fat Friar was all for giving him the chance — but most wisely, in my opinion, the Bloody Baron put his foot down."

1995—1996 school year

Ernie Macmillan: "Dumbledore will be back before long. They couldn't keep him away in our second year and they won't be able to this time. The Fat Friar told me — that Umbridge tried to get back into his office last night after they'd searched the castle and grounds for him. Couldn't get past the gargoyle. The Head's office has sealed itself against her. Apparently, she had a right little tantrum."

Hermione Granger: "Oh, I expect she really fancied herself sitting up there in the Head's office. Lording it over all the other teachers, the stupid puffed-up, power-crazy old —"

1996—1997 school year

"An extraordinary assortment of people had already settled into half of the chairs: shabby and smart, old and young. […] The castle ghosts were there too, barely visible in the bright sunlight, discernible only when they moved, shimmering insubstantially in the gleaming air."

1997—1998 school year

"The enchanted ceiling of the Great Hall was dark and scattered with stars, and below it the four long House tables were lined with disheveled students […]. Here and there shone the pearly white figures of the school ghosts. Every eye, living and dead was fixed upon Professor McGonagall, who was speaking from the raised platform at the top of the Hall. Behind her stood the remaining teachers […] and the members of the Order of the Phoenix who had arrived to fight."

Physical appearance

As a ghost, the Friar was pearly-white and slightly transparent.[2] He had short brown hair, which he wore with a small tonsure.[3] At first sight a monk,[2] he was dressed in a habit held by a rope belt.[3] He was fat and short,[2] and usually carried a mug with him.[3]

Personality and traits

"The table on the right cheered and clapped as Hannah went to sit down at the Hufflepuff table. Harry saw the ghost of the Fat Friar waving merrily at her."

The Friar was very cheerful and welcoming, and happily greeted new students at Hogwarts.[2] He also tended to find something to value in anyone and look past their faults, as he always insisted with the other ghosts to let Peeves attend the Start-of-Term Feasts despite his many wrongdoings.[2][9] He also appeared to be quite sociable, meeting and engaging in conversation with fellow ghosts during Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington's five-hundredth Deathday Party.[7] He also seems to have some House pride, as he happily reminisced about his "old House" when welcoming first-years.[2] Despite this, he was always resentful of the fact that he was never made a cardinal.[5]

Notes and references

↑ 1.01.1Given Hogwarts was founded in around 993 A.D. and that the Friar attended it, he must have been eleven by or after the school's founding. So, the earliest date he could have possibly been born is 982.